Over the top Bangkok

Ah....the end of the first day in Bangkok so it must be time to drink....Vincent and Victor.  But first, they had to borrow long pants from the concierge  so we could get in the place.  

The first thing we did after checking in was dash out the door to take a long-tail boat cruise on the Chao Phraya River.  Then we had high tea at the Oriental Hotel followed by shopping, drinks and finally massages ($13) back at the hotel.  I'm telling you, this is not a bad way to live!

I call this style "the wedding cake".

This one's for you, Susan and Mary!

This half-bird, half-man "guaruda" warrier is part of the royal insignia and is everywhere in various mediums.

One building is covered with gigantic murals with gold used for the royals. It tells a story that goes through several centuries.  Basically, it covers jealousy, courtship, wars, political revolutions, adultery, whacking the staff.......all the usual stuff.

This is Jacqui's 83-year old father - Herb - who never stopped.  At breakfast the day they left, he was already planning our next trip.  How cool is that!

Sorry, can't figure out how to delete these duplications.  But these shots are from the Grand Palace.  This place is so big and so over the top detailed that I haven't found a shot yet that adequately gives you an overview but this palace covers almost a square mile.  The buildings have been built by various kings and each is in a completely different style - obviously, no grand strategy was employed.  There are millions of tiny pieces of opaque glass tiles used along with over a ton of gold.  It's ostentatious while also beautiful and no square inch has been left unadorned.  Floors, walls, ceilings....everything.